Former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi and several African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaderswere reportedly attacked by armed assailants in Benin City, Edo State, on Tuesday.

The incident, described as a “siege” and an “assassination attempt” by Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, occurred at two separate locations during a political gathering.

Obi was in Benin to witness the formal declaration of Olumide Akpata, the 2023 LP governorship candidate for Edo, into the ADC.

The event began at the ADC secretariat, where an unexpectedly large crowd gathered, which Activist Oruche Ogeamara Precious (Mama Pee) suggested may have angered the attackers.

Reports indicate that armed individuals trailed Obi and the ADC chieftains from the party secretariat to the residence of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Former Governor of Edo State.

At Odigie-Oyegun’s residence, the attackers intensified, reportedly firing at the gate and damaging vehicles.

Val Obienyem, Obi’s media aide, confirmed that the gunmen “specifically chased the vehicle carrying Mr. Peter Obi to Chief John Onyegun’s house and continued their attack.”

Obi, unharmed, condemned the violence as “totally unacceptable,” emphasizing that such acts threaten democracy and asserting that the matter would be reported to the authorities.

He suggested that political opponents, fearing the 2027 elections, “don’t want peace.”

The attack resulted in casualties, including one person shot twice in the head and another shot in the neck, both hospitalized.

Mama Pee detailed that attackers arrived on motorcycles at Odigie-Oyegun’s residence, opened fire, and caused panic, questioning the insufficient police presence.

The Obidient Movement and ADC supporters accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring the attack. Yunusa Tanko stated, “Democracy is in danger.”

The attackers reportedly fled when operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) intervened.